How FICO Credit Scores Are Calculated

Since we live in an automated, it's probably not that surprising that your ability to repay your mortgage loan boils down to one number. All the years you've been paying your various bills: your mortgage, car payments, and credit card bills are analyzed, spindled and mutilated into a single indicator of whether you're likely to meet your future obligations.

The three credit reporting agencies use slightly different formulas to build a credit score. Fair Isaac and Cooriginally developed this score. . While Experian still calls its score "FICO", TransUnion calls its score "Beacon" and Equifax uses "Empirica." While these methods vary from one agency to another, all of the agencies use the following to build a score:

• Credit History - How long have you had credit?
• History of Payments - Do you have a history of late payments?
• Balances on your Credit Cards - How many credit card accounts do you hold, and how much do you owe?
• Inquiries on Your Credit - How many times have you had your credit checked for a loan?

Each of these is assigned a value and a weight. The results are added up and distilled into a single number. FICO scores range from 300 to 800. Higher scores are better. Most home buyers will probably find their FICO scores falling between 620 and 800.

Your credit score greatly affects how much you pay in interest every month

FICO scores affect more than your ability to get a loan. They also affect your interest rate. Lenders give lower interest rates to individuals with higher scores.

Improving your score

Is it possible to improve your FICO score? So called "credit repair" companies advertise quick fixes, but the FICO score is built on your lifetime credit history, so it's not possible to raise it significantly in the short term. (Of course you must appeal incorrect items on your credit report.)

How do I find out my FICO score?

Before you can improve your FICO score, you must know your score and be sure that the reports from each reporting agency are correct. Fair Isaac, the company that offered the original FICO credit score, offers credit scores on myFICO.com. It's inexpensive, fast, and easy to get your credit score along with credit reports from all three reporting agencies. Also available are helpful information and tools that help you analyze what actions might have the greatest impact on your FICO score.

You can get a free credit report every year from the three major credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com. These reports do not include a free score, but it's very inexpensive to get one at the same time.

Now that you have all the facts, you will be a more informed consumer and you'll be better positioned to obtain the most favorable mortgage.

Curious about credit scores? Call us: 9094671090.